Conservation areas are designated if we consider that their particular character is valuable and should be preserved. There are 48 conservation areas in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area.
Where development is proposed in a conservation area, whether it is alterations to an existing building or development of new buildings, it should be in keeping with the special character of that area. There are specific policies in the Local Plans relating to development in conservation areas.
If your property is in a conservation area, the kind of minor work that you can carry out without planning permission is also more limited than elsewhere. Further advice on permitted development in conservation areas is available on the planning portal or you can use our pre-application advice service or view our map.
How we assess conservation areas
Character studies help us to understand the historic nature and importance of the area. They are helpful if an appraisal hasn’t been carried out, but they don’t fully reflect best practice guidance and latest policy, which may have changed since the study was completed.
Conservation area appraisals are more in depth than character studies and identify the key features that make the area significant. When preparing conservation area appraisals, we will also produce management plans. These set out the way in which development pressure and neglect will be managed to ensure conservation areas retain the qualities that led to their designation.
We are working towards producing appraisals and management plans for all of the conservation areas in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area.
The conservation areas are listed below:
| Name of area (year designated) | Documents available |
|---|---|
| Ashington, Poole (2002) | Map Appraisal |
| Ashley Cross, Poole (1987, amended June 2012) | Map Appraisal and management plan |
| Avon Buildings, Christchurch (1991) | Map |
| Boscombe Manor, Bournemouth (1993) | Map and summary |
| Boscombe Spa, Bournemouth (1994) | Map and summary |
| Bramble Lane, Christchurch (1982) | Map |
| Branksome Park and Chine Gardens, Poole (1981, extended November 2014) | Map Appraisal and management plan |
| Brunstead Road, Poole (1989, amended May 2000 and boundary amended November 2014)) | Map Leaflet |
| Burton, Christchurch (1986) | Map Appraisal and management plan Appendix A Erratum |
| Canford Cliffs Village, Poole (1977, extended 2014) | Map Appraisal |
| Canford Magna, Poole (1977, amended December 1992) | Map Leaflet |
| Chester Road, Poole (2010) | Map Appraisal |
| Christchurch Central (1969) | Map Appraisal and management plan Appendix 1 |
| Christchurch Hospital (1991) | Map |
| Churchill Gardens, Bournemouth (1993, amended December 2013) | Map Appraisal Management plan Conservation report |
| Dean Park, Bournemouth (1993) | Map and summary |
| East Cliff, Bournemouth (1987, amended January 1988) | |
| Evening Hill, Poole (1992, amended November 2014) | Map |
| Heckford Park, Poole (2010) | Map Appraisal |
| Holdenhurst Village, Bournemouth (1974, amended March 2014) | Map Appraisal |
| Hurn, Christchurch (1991) | Map |
| Knole Road, Bournemouth (1993, amended April 1999) | Map Character study |
| Meyrick Park and Talbot Woods, Bournemouth (1988, amended July 2009) | Map Appraisal document part 1 Appraisal document part 2 |
| Mudeford Quay, Christchurch (1981, amended May 2008) | Map Appraisal and management plan Appendix A |
| Muscliff Lane, Bournemouth (1992, amended July 1999) | Map Character study |
| Oakley Lane, Poole (1987, amended December 1992) | Map Leaflet |
| Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth (1993) |
Old Christchurch Road - Draft appraisal and management plan part 1 |
| Poole Park (1995, amended October 1996) | Map Appraisal |
| Portchester Road, Bournemouth (1993) | Map Appraisal |
| Purewell, Christchurch (1991, amended June 1995) | Map Appraisal and management plan |
| Ridgeway and Broadstone Park, Poole (2004, extended December 2008) | Map Appraisal |
| Sandbanks, Poole (2003) | Map Appraisal and management plan |
| Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth (1993) | Map |
| Stanpit and Fisherman's Bank, Christchurch (1991, revised May 2008) | Map Appraisal and management plan Appendix A |
| Talbot Village, Bournemouth (1975, amended June 2016) | Map Appraisal Management plan |
| The Avenue, Poole (1989, amended December 1992 and May 2000, extended November 2014) | Map Appraisal |
| The Saints, Bournemouth (1987, amended April 1999) | Map Character study |
| Throop and Muccleshell Villages, Bournemouth (1975, amended July 1999) | Map and summary |
| Town Centre Heritage, Poole (2012) | Map Appraisal part 1 and part 2 |
| Tudor Road and Golf Links Road, Poole (2004, extended December 2008) | Map Appraisal |
| Undercliff Road, Bournemouth (1990) | Map and summary |
| Verno Lane, Christchurch (1988) | Map |
| West Cliff and Poole Hill, Bournemouth (1989) | Map and summary Draft appraisal and management plan (2018) |
| West Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth (1987) | Map and summary |
| Westbourne, Bournemouth (1993) | Map and summary |
| Wick Village, Bournemouth (1985, amended April 1991) | Map and summary |
| Winkton, Christchurch (1989, boundary amended January 2007) | Map Appraisal and management plan Appendix A |
Dorset Historic Towns Project report on Christchurch
You can view this urban characterisation study for the Christchurch area (2011):